We all know that hydration is critical for good health, but no one knows it better than those working in the health and social care field. Not only does hydration keep bodies performing at their best, but it’s also vital for promoting energy and mobility, improving skin health and supporting immune function.
It’s concerning, then, to know that the elderly are more susceptible to dehydration than younger people…and residential care home providers will be only too familiar with the consequent impacts and resulting issues that widespread dehydration can cause.
The issue is in fact so prevalent that 1 in 4 older people are now considered to be dehydrated (often without them even realising) which can lead to increased health risks including infections, falls and urinary tract infections.
It’s the stark reality of care homes up and down the country and an alarming statistic; not only for the overall health and wellbeing of residents, but also the ongoing pressures that residential care homes bear the brunt of day in, day out.
Increased incidents of urinary tract infections, a higher risk of nutrient deficiencies, and the impact of dehydration on chronic conditions all lead in one direction – heightened pressure placed on care home resources, staff and finances.
So, what if you could reduce the incidence of UTIs in your residential care home by 72%?
The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way – dehydration may well be a major issue in residential care homes but it is preventable.
Here at WaterADE we believe there are three key requirements for encouraging hydration in residents;
- make it accessible
- make it appealing
- make it tasty
WaterADE has been designed as a sugar free, gluten free instant vitamin drink that comes in a range of enticing flavours and is specifically designed to appeal to the elderly in order to improve hydration and overall health.
We know that having choice is crucial for residents when it comes to having ownership over their wellbeing, which is why WaterADE comes in a range of delicious flavours including blackcurrant, strawberry, orange and our newest flavour pink grapefruit.
For those providers that have already installed WaterADE Instant Vitamin Drinks in their care homes for their residents, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Even more crucially, those providers have reported up to a 72% reduction in the incidence of UTIs for their residents. That’s more time, money and resource put back into your care home and a greater quality of life for your residents.
How does it work?
The beauty of WaterADE is it can be installed in your care home right away so that it can instantly get to work to hydrate your residents. Packed with essential vitamins including vitamins C, A, D & E, WaterADE dispensers can be placed in easily accessible locations within any care environment, fitting seamlessly into everyday routines to keep residents hydrated while also promoting overall health.
While juices and cordials have been relied on in the past to try and encourage elderly residents to drink more, their high sugar content is a concern and can exacerbate other health conditions. WaterADE acts as a healthy alternative to fruit juice, encouraging residents to hydrate while limiting their intake of sugar, which can of course lead to weight gain, spikes in blood sugar and worsening diabetes. The added vitamins also provide much-needed support for skin, immune health and bone strength.
As for the price? WaterAde costs just 0.04p per patient per day; that’s half the price of orange juice and cordial combined, making WaterAde an incredibly affordable, healthy and easy solution to the prevalent issue of dehydration in care homes.
If you’re curious about how WaterADE could work in your care home, please do get in touch – we’d be very happy to talk with you in further detail about how our dispensers might fit into your care home environment to keep your residents hydrated, happy and healthy.